by Leigh Goessl

Created on: August 18, 2011

The Internet has had a profound effect on global society and has dramatically changed the world as it was once known adding many tangible and intangible benefits. However, unfortunately, these benefits are countered by some drawbacks too, and a notable one is Internet scams.

Generally Internet scams play on emotions or try to fill some sort of tangible need, such as money or other item that holds value. Individuals taken in by swindlers may be experiencing difficulties or vulnerabilities and may fall for a scam because often the scams are so cleverly worded they offer a sense of hope. Other tactics scammers use is to instill fear, or create an aura of sensationalism where the unsuspecting victim is too curious not to fall for the scam.

There are many various types of scammers taking up residence on the Internet just waiting to snag someone into their trap. Here are a few of the more prominent scams:

• Phishing

Unfortunately phishing has become a problematic issue. These thieves, also known as 'phishermen', use a combination of social engineering tactics in order to lure their victims with their bait. Phishing primarily comes in the form of email and contains links leading to fake websites (known as spoofing). Websites can also be found housed on the web as well enticing victims to share personal or sensitive information.

However the bait arrives, it usually is masked as something useful, desirable or, most often, masquerades as a legitimate business. Companies such as eBay, various banks, email servers Amazon and PayPal are frequent targets of phishermen and spoofed websites. This way victims think they are accessing legitimate businesses and enter information when requested. At this point the thief gets access to important accounts which can be used for identity or financial theft.

• Unclaimed property or funds scams

Currently reemerging in 2011 in various states in the U.S., the unclaimed property or fund scam preys on victims by telling them they have unclaimed valuable property. Instead, scammers are looking to pilfer personal information or steal money from you.

• Lottery scams

These scams are an old favorite for scammers. Contact mostly comes through email notifying the recipient that they have won a sum of money and often will be a 'foreign' lottery. In these notifications, the standard adage 'if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is' should be remembered, especially if you do not recall entering a lottery. What happens is scammers

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